Which place is cheaper, New Orleans or Quito?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Quito or New Orleans?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Quito or New Orleans? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Quito or New Orleans?
Quito
Nestled between two mountain ranges lies the world's highest capital city, Quito, Ecuador. For history lovers, Quito is a very desirable destination as it's home to the Quito Historic Center – one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas.
Even though Quito is full of people – in fact, it's the second most populous city in the country – very few of its inhabitants speak English. Luckily, however, the citizens of Quito tend to speak a slower and more clear Spanish than surrounding areas. This is the perfect place to practice what you read in your Intro to Spanish book.
Before visiting Quito, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, give yourself a few days to grow accustomed to the elevation. Staying 9,350 feet above sea level takes some getting used to. Second, don't be fooled into thinking that just because you're visiting a town on the equator that you'll need all your summer clothes. Because of the city's elevation, the area keeps a relatively cool climate year round.
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.
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Quito Prices
Ecuador PricesNew Orleans Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuito $66New Orleans $271
The average daily cost (per person) in Quito is $66, while the average daily cost in New Orleans is $271. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Quito and New Orleans in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuito $22New Orleans $125
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuito $44New Orleans $250
Compare Hotels in Quito and New Orleans
Looking for a hotel in Quito or New Orleans? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Quito Hotel Prices and New Orleans Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quito $6.99New Orleans $51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
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Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
- Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
- Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
- Transfer Private Airport–Hotel in Quito: $39
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Transfer In from Quito's Airport to the city: $39
- Transfer In & Out from Quito: $100
- Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel with bilingual driver: $43
- Quito airport private transfer IN or OUT: $28
- Quito PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport: $36
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $36
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer in New Orleans: $175
- Airport and City Transfers in New Orleans : $135
- Boss Nola : Luxury Private Airport Transfer: $90
- Cruise Port Transfer New Orleans and Louis Armstrong Intl MSY: $40
- Handicap New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $260
- NOLA Cruise Port to New Orleans hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $105
- NOLA Cruise Port to New Orleans hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $209
- New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans - Round-Trip Transfer : $129
- New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans Port Private Transfer: $64
- New Orleans Airport One way Transfer to Baton Rouge or Slidell: $250
- New Orleans Airport(MSY) to Port of New Orleans- Private Transfer: $48
- New Orleans Departure Transfers: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Quito or New Orleans?
Prices for flights to both New Orleans and Quito change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayQuito $34New Orleans $78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
- Ecuador Food Tour: $69
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
- Quito Private Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $114
- Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English): $120
- Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour : $135
- Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $149
- Quito Food Tour Where my Family Go Urban Art New and Old Quito: $155
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Orleans Demonstration Cooking Class with Meal: $42
- Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $58
- Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $60
- French Quarter Food Tour: Signature Tastes of New Orleans: $75
- New Orleans Sunset Food Tour Experience: $85
- Private New Orleans Food Tour of the French Quarter : $85
- Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89
- NOLA Carte Food Tours: $96
- Voodoo, Vampires and Delicious Bites Food Tour: $97
- New Orleans Cooking Class and Cocktail Walking Tour: $106
- New Orleans Small-Group Food Walking Tour and Cooking Class: $109
- Food Tour of New Orleans Garden District: Group of Nine or Less: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quito $16New Orleans $55
Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to Guyasimine Museum for Two$8.00
Tours and Activities in Quito
Here are a few actual costs in Quito for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- A Full-Day Private Adventure Antisana Andean Volcano: $100
- The best of Quito walking tour: $283
- Tour Full-Day Mercado de Otavalo + Cotacachi, Ecuador.: $75
- 2-Day Tour of Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon with hotel: $222
- 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
- Adventure in Quilotoa Lagoon by Lead: $150
- All Inclusive Mindo Cloud Forest in a Private Full Day Tour: $130
- Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
- Antisana Volcano Birding & Natural History Condor Tour PRIVATE, all included: $198
- Antisana Volcano Day Tour from Quito: $120
- Antisana Volcano Private Tour: $103
- Antisana volcano private tour; birding and hike in the Andes: $130
Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)$75
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Riverboat Cruise$70
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French Quarter City Tour$100
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ghosts of Self-Guided Haunted Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Ghost Hunt in Quest Experience: $7.13
- City Park Exploration Game and Tour: $7.13
- New Orleans French Quarter Audio Tour: Iconic Sites & Hidden Gems: $7.99
- New Orleans Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- New Orleans Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.51
- Self-Guided Walking Tour French Quarter In New Orleans: $9.75
- Self Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans' Historic Garden District: $9.99
- A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Tour of New Orleans’ Historic French Quarter: $9.99
- Walking the Tremé: A Self-guided Audio Tour of New Orleans: $9.99
- Old Ursuline Convent Museum Ticket: New Pope Leo XIV Exhibit: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuito $17New Orleans $60
Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
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Beers for Two$9.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Quito
Also in Quito, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $155
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
- Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party with Free Shot!: $24
- New Orleans Small-Group History Tour Pub Crawl of The Irish Channel: $25
- NOLA Distillery Tour: $30
- New Orleans Spooky Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour: $30
- Vixens and Villains Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- New Orleans Happy Hour Ghost Walking Tour Pub Crawl: $33
- New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Till Death Do Us Part: Haunted Pub Crawl Where Love Meets Death: $35
- Sin and Tonic Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $35
- New Orleans Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
- Adults Only Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $37
- New Orleans' Finest Haunted Pub Tour: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quito and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quito is in South America and New Orleans is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Quito would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quito and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Quito.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Quito Expensive? and Is New Orleans Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quito or New Orleans?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of Quito and New Orleans, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.